Punk’d is back with new hosts, a new home, and a new focus on creators. The classic MTV prank show has been reimagined as “Punk You,” a YouTube series featuring a cast of influencers, musicians, and other celebrities.
The original version of Punk’d aired from 2003 to 2007 and was hosted by actor Ashton Kutcher. Since then, there have been several attempts to revive the show. The popularity of pranks on YouTube sparked a brief resurgence thanks to the talents of Vine and Quibi.
Punk You is completely different from those efforts. Rather than finding a replacement for Kutcher, the new show will feature a rotating host from the creative community. Kutcher’s celebrity connections gave him a boost as a 2000s punk star. Punk You showrunners Sophie Watts and Joe White are betting that stars from YouTube, TikTok and Twitch can provide a similar vibe. (They also got help from original Punk’d producer Jason Goldberg.)
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Check out the first episode of Punk You for an example of how that approach works. Sports game streamer Sketch was the mastermind behind the prank, fellow Twitch star Jynxzi was his beacon, and the results have to be seen to be believed.
Other guests scheduled for Punk You include Jojo Siwa and NLE Choppa. “This is a format we designed specifically for social media,” Watts said.
With ’00s nostalgia all the rage on the internet right now, now’s the perfect time to bring back some punk. (That’s why Limewire is coming back.) New versions of MTV classics like TRL are harnessing the power of social media influencers, and other media companies are turning to shows like Pimp My Ride. We put our own unique twist on it. And as our coverage page attests, MTV itself has a long history when it comes to social content.
As someone who grew up in that era, the sudden craze for MTV in the 2000s is a little surreal. But Punk You is no joke, and I don’t see Ashton Kutcher jumping out of the bushes any time soon.
